Please ask about our sample lessons. One free sample lesson will be provided for each school to allow teachers, students and staff to understand how Brooklyn Seeds can bring nature into both classrooms and neighborhoods. These lessons are wonderfully educational indoor and outdoor gardening projects that kids can do all year round - spring, summer, fall and winter. Whether it's caring for native plants in neighborhood tree beds or planting indoor microgreens, kids can learn about the power of plants and the animals that need them. Indoor winter gardening may include planting fragrant paper white bulbs or sprouting lentils they can eat in two days with the latter also focusing on the importance of health and nutrition. For very young children, this provides the immediate gratification of starting, nurturing, and successfully caring for their own plant- within days. Or we may go outdoors and check on our kale and tomatoes, make sure the trees and garden beds have been mulched to protect them from extreme temperatures or make native mason bee homes. And families become involved as kids learn about and work on plants in the school garden, in the neighborhood or in community gardens.
Your school doesn’t need a garden to have a gardening program. There are bins full of soil, compost and plants that are brought to each school, and then taken out again so the kids can have their play space back. We also adopt neighborhood trees, learn about and plant native plants, and study native birds and bees, so there is a strong community aspect to their projects. But most of the gardening projects allow each child to plant outside (in street trees, class window boxes, along school fences), or take home his or her own sprouts, plants, cuttings, bird feeders, and even red wiggler worms.
"I value the experience of facilitating horticultural groups with Eman. She has a deep understanding of the children she encounters, and is quick to develop a strong rapport with them. Her love of gardening inspires those she interacts with."
Susan Braverman, Horticultural Therapy Master
Your school doesn’t need a garden to have a gardening program. There are bins full of soil, compost and plants that are brought to each school, and then taken out again so the kids can have their play space back. We also adopt neighborhood trees, learn about and plant native plants, and study native birds and bees, so there is a strong community aspect to their projects. But most of the gardening projects allow each child to plant outside (in street trees, class window boxes, along school fences), or take home his or her own sprouts, plants, cuttings, bird feeders, and even red wiggler worms.
"I value the experience of facilitating horticultural groups with Eman. She has a deep understanding of the children she encounters, and is quick to develop a strong rapport with them. Her love of gardening inspires those she interacts with."
Susan Braverman, Horticultural Therapy Master
Many classes have window sills full of kids’ plants, until they are established enough to take home or plant outdoors, ensuring long-term love and care for gardening and our environment. We also visit nearby community gardens, where children learn about urban gardens and green spaces that are crucial to the survival of native animals. Kids are allowed to explore nature and play garden games in these hard-fought-for community gardens that have amazing histories.
We involve families by sending emails and newsletters explaining what their child is learning about and doing. We also link parents to local organizations and resources so they can continue to discuss the current and relevant environmental issues we are studying.
We involve families by sending emails and newsletters explaining what their child is learning about and doing. We also link parents to local organizations and resources so they can continue to discuss the current and relevant environmental issues we are studying.
Some of these organizations include: GrowNYC, 6/15 Green, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Prospect Park Alliance, Greenwood Cemetery and many other NYC green treasures. We link parents and kids to these mostly local organizations so they can visit and/or continue to learn about the environment and organic gardening.
"My daughter loves to learn about plants, animals, our environment, and what it means to live green. Eman's classes keep her in touch with nature, even in a big city like New York."
Astrid Schaefer - mom to 5-year-old Mia - PS 321
"My daughter loves to learn about plants, animals, our environment, and what it means to live green. Eman's classes keep her in touch with nature, even in a big city like New York."
Astrid Schaefer - mom to 5-year-old Mia - PS 321